Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Slow fill and code P0442

I've just bought an 00 SVTC with 110K mile on it. I've only filled it up twice so far and both times it has been very hard to fill. The first time I thought it may have been the gas pump as I had never been to that station before and it was a crummy place out in the boonies. Second time and the same thing happened so I assume it's the car. What happens is you put in the nozzle in the fill pipe and pull the handle, setting the latch to hold it open. After a couple of seconds, less than a gallon into an empty tank, it burps back, cut's out and would have covered me with gas had I not had the auto fill latch in place and stepped back. I then have to fill 'manual' just holding the grip very lightly so that gas trickles in. It take five minuets to fill in this way, and still cut's out 10 plus times. Several days after the first fill the CEL light came on, the only code is P0442, which I cleared. I have now filled up a second time (same slow process with cutting out) but it hasn't returned yet. I've searched this forum for P0442 and 'slow fill'. I've read all the posts on P0442 and found this post; http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=trouble&Number=833701&Forum=trouble&Words=442&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=822663&Search=true#Post833701 which mentions cleaning out the evap canister of mud. I'll have a look tonight, but I assume that when 'FordLove' said he cleaned mud out he meant that he removed mud from the tray, not the inside of the canister. How does this help?. I found nothing under 'slow fill' when searching. I can see no damage to the fill pipe or connections. Does any one have any ideas? Could the carbon canister be blocked?

Thanks

Adrian Thompson

Slow fill is very common.

Read this.
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=trouble&Number=1205885&Forum=trouble&Words=tank%20fill&Match=And&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=3months&Main=1205883&Search=true#Post1205885

In addition, has the P0442 returned since the fill up? If not, don't worry about it, a loose gas cap can cause that too. Make sure you tighten the cap at least 3 clicks. If it returns again, you may want to try a new gas cap first (or have your friendly emissions inspector test the gas cap for you).

Thanks for the quick reply. Pity I'm outside the 100K extended warranty. It sounds like fiddling around with fill techniques may help. Is the flapper valve in the the fill tube assembly or a seperate part? Does any one have the part # so I can find one and replace it.

Thanks

Adrian

Rat's P0442 has returned 300 miles later. I don't belive it's the gas cap so there must be some other small leak. Are there any known, common leak paths?

Thanks

Adrian Thompson

For filling just insert gas nozzle, rotate anti-clockwise by about 45 degrees or so then fill. This should still allow the lock-off point but allow quick filling.

For the P0442, take the car to a shop that has a smoke machine, pay the shop fee for the testing.

Trust me it's worth it.

Once you identify the source of the leak, you can decide whether it attack it yourself.

FWIW, unless you have emissions testing, I wouldn't mess with it (again).

Steve

I don't think that the repair for the stuck fill valve is expensive. Just make sure that you are on empty when you take it in.

Bit late on this thread but here's my experience with a 0442 CEL. Mine started shortly after I had the fuel pump replaced by the dealer (under warranty). Figured it had to be connected with the work but took it back twice and they were unable to find the cause because it always returned. To cut a long story short, (and by this time I had moved 1,000 miles away) the problem was eventually traced to a fuel line on the top of the fuel tank which had been nicked by the metalwork under the back seat that they had 'peeled back' to access the fuel pump. It was a tiny nick, but enough to cause the P0442.

Thanks Midwicket, I'll bet it's that. I had my back seat out at the weekend as my 5 year old spilled milk and I wanted to clean it before It turned rancid. I notice that the sheet metal had been cut around the sender access panel.

All others, turning the nozzle 45 or even 90 degrees helps, but doesn't cure the situation.

As for paying someone to look at or work on the car, forget it. The only time anyone but me works on a car is if it's for warranty. I'm in Michigen so no emissions testing, I'll just live with it.

Thanks

Adrian